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S 255 97th Congress Senate Commerce Drugs Food additives Government regulation Inventions Patents Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights

Patent Term Restoration Act of 1981

Introduced: January 27, 1981 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 18, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Nov 12, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Nov 5, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Oct 7, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Oct 1, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Sep 30, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 22, 1981
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 15, 1981
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice.
Jul 13, 1981
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Jul 9, 1981
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Jul 9, 1981
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Jun 16, 1981
Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 97-138.
Jun 13, 1981
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Jun 10, 1981
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 165.
Jun 10, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Mathias favorably without amendment. Without written report.
May 19, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
May 5, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Apr 30, 1981
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.
Jan 27, 1981
Read second time and referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary.
Jan 27, 1981
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SUAMDT 218 — Providing that, except for products approved and for which a stay of regulation granting approval pursuant to… Agreed to Jul 9, 1981
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Patent Term Restoration Act of 1981 - Amends the patent law to extend the terms of patents which encompass specified products or a method for using a product, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a seven year limitation. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent.

Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for products subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Act of March 4, 1913 (relating to virus, serum, toxin, and analogous products).

What's happening now November 18, 1981

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1937 Identical bill Patent Term Restoration Act of 1981
 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Apr 30, 1981
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 255: Patent Term Restoration Act of 1981. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-255/
MLA
"S. 255: Patent Term Restoration Act of 1981." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-255/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 255, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-255/.
Markdown link
[S. 255: Patent Term Restoration Act of 1981](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-255/)
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